On 25 June 2026, Ukrainian media outlet Babel from Mykola Kharkhan, a serviceman of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment 鈥淪kelia鈥�, call sign 鈥淜yianyn鈥�, following the outlet鈥檚 investigation into non-combat deaths of soldiers in the regiment.
In a video posted on his Facebook page, Kharkhan insulted the authors of the Babel investigation, Kateryna Lykhohliad and editor-in-chief Kateryna Kobernyk, using a vulgar slur in combination with their journalist title, and referring to the journalists as 鈥渕edia killers鈥� allegedly working for Russian money. He also described the outlet as 鈥渙ffice-Russian鈥� (an unclear allusion to the office of President Zelensky and Russia) and accused the journalists of tarnishing the honour of what he called one of Ukraine鈥檚 most combat-capable units.
Kharkhan disputed Babel鈥檚 reporting that at least 26 soldiers had died from illnesses in the regiment, saying that 18 of them had died in medical facilities rather than in the regiment. He said such deaths should be investigated, but added that 鈥渘o one is allowed to defame鈥� the unit 鈥渨ith Russian money鈥�.
Babel editor Hlib Husiev told IMI that the newsroom considered Kharkhan鈥檚 statements to be threats. In the same video, Kharkhan also insulted law enforcement officers, calling them 鈥渃yber-trash鈥� and 鈥渃yber-Chekists鈥�, and said that those involved would have to 鈥渧omit up鈥� the money they had received.
The threats followed Babel鈥檚 23 June 2026 investigation into the non-combat deaths of at least 26 recruits of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment 鈥淪kelia鈥� from late 2025 to spring 2026. According to the investigation, most of them died from pneumonia, cardiovascular and other illnesses shortly after mobilisation, while relatives of some of the deceased alleged possible violence.
Oleksii Bratushchak, communications officer of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment 鈥淪kelia鈥�, said threats against journalists were unacceptable and that the regiment鈥檚 command had clearly stated that there should be no actions against the authors of this or any other investigation. He said Kharkhan鈥檚 statements were not the official position of the regiment.
On 7 July 2026, Babel said the State Bureau of Investigation had filed by editor-in-chief Kateryna Kobernyk and journalist Kateryna Lykhohliad regarding the threats, instead saying it would forward the complaint to the National Police. On 8 July, however, SBI head Oleksii Sukhachov said the bureau had registered criminal proceedings over the threats and would verify the information.